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Principal Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in California

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Principal Machine Learning Engineer information

See California salary details

$73K

$145.3K

$209.7K

How much do principal machine learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal machine learning engineer in California is $145,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,900.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a principal machine learning engineer do?

A Principal Machine Learning Engineer leads the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and systems. They set technical strategy, mentor engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex AI challenges. Their role often includes researching new algorithms, optimizing model performance, and ensuring scalability in production environments. Additionally, they work closely with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to align ML initiatives with business objectives.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a principal machine learning engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you need advanced expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, software engineering, and a strong background in computer science or related fields, often supported by a master's or PhD degree. Familiarity with tools such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and relevant certifications strengthens technical capability. Leadership, strategic thinking, effective communication, and mentorship are vital soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating across departments. These competencies are essential for driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and influencing organizational AI initiatives.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a principal machine learning engineer typically expect?

Principal Machine Learning Engineers are often tasked with leading the design, development, and deployment of large-scale machine learning models and systems that address key business challenges. In this role, you will collaborate closely with data scientists, engineers, and product managers to define project requirements, architect solutions, and ensure high-quality delivery. You may also guide research initiatives, oversee code and model reviews, and mentor junior engineers, helping to shape the technical direction of the team. Typical responsibilities can range from prototyping and optimizing algorithms to ensuring models are scalable, reliable, and aligned with organizational goals.

Is a principal machine learning engineer a high paying job?

A principal machine learning engineer is typically a high-level role with a competitive salary that reflects advanced expertise in machine learning, data science, and software engineering. Salaries often vary based on industry, location, and company size but generally exceed those of mid-level roles due to the experience and leadership responsibilities involved.
Infographic showing various Principal Machine Learning Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,292 per year, or $69.9 per hour.

Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Atlassian

Mountain View, CA โ€ข On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will drive the development and implementation of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms, training sophisticated models, and collaborating with product, engineering, and analytics teams to build AI functionalities into Atlassian products and services. Your daily responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of tasks designing system and model architectures, conducting rigorous experimentation and model evaluations, and providing guidance to emerging ML engineers. Your role is pivotal, ensuring AI's transformative potential is realized across our offerings.


Technical Leadership & Execution

  • Drive complex decisions that impact the work of teams and change their technical direction over multiple quarters

  • Regularly tackle the largest and most complex problems on the team, from technical design to launch

  • Set the direction of systems and capabilities, balancing progress over perfection

  • Determine plans-of-attack on large projects and solve complex architecture challenges

Model Development & Experimentation

  • Design, develop, and deploy production-grade ML models (e.g., ranking, retrieval, LLM-based systems) to optimize user experience and achieve business objectives

  • Conduct meticulous experimentation and model evaluations, backing decisions with data

  • Develop robust feature engineering practices to ingest, process, and serve features for offline training and online inference at scale

  • Oversee end-to-end deployment of ML solutions into production, ensuring continuous evaluation, monitoring, and improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and engineering teams to integrate AI/ML capabilities into products

  • Partner across engineering teams to take on company-wide programs spanning multiple projects

  • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Mentorship & Organizational Impact

  • Mentor and guide junior and senior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning

  • Actively share knowledge and expertise through mentoring and coaching beyond direct reports

  • Contribute to programs of work that scale across the department

  • Identify, solve, and bridge gaps/problems across teams using experience and expertise

Decision Making & Direction

  • Quickly collate and analyze key decision parameters, balancing speed, risk, and impact appropriately

  • Limit ambiguity and risk by experimenting and prototyping

  • Understand how contributions of multiple capabilities fit into larger products and platforms


At Atlassian, we strive to design equitable, explainable, and competitive compensation programs. We follow consistent hiring practices and account for each candidate's skills, knowledge, and experience when setting base pay within the range.

Please visit go.atlassian.com/payzones for more information on which locations are included in each of our geographic pay zones. However, please confirm the zone for your specific location with your recruiter.

This role may also be eligible for benefits, bonuses, commissions, and equity.


In The United States or Remote, we have three geographic pay zones. For this role, our current base pay ranges for new hires in each zone are:


Zone A: $236,700 - $309,025


Zone B: $213,030 - $278,123


Zone C: $196,461 - $256,491


Benefits & Perks

Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage with your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.

About Atlassian

At Atlassian, we're motivated by a common goal: to unleash the potential of every team. Our software products help teams all over the planet and our solutions are designed for all types of work. Team collaboration through our tools makes what may be impossible alone, possible together.

We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

To provide you the best experience, we can support with accommodations or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Simply inform our Recruitment team during your conversation with them.

To learn more about our culture and hiring process, visit go.atlassian.com/crh.

In line with local law, identity verification (which may include use of biometric data) is a condition of employment with Atlassian for employment fraud purposes.